Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1887-08-05

l ought to show il to you"
He held out his hand silently, and
she laid the letter in it. As he unfold
ed it something dropped; he uttered an
exclamation of surprise as he picked it
up. Was ii POSSIBLE? Could it be tho
slender gold ring that Rosamond lost
so many years ago? Yes, there could
be no mistake. for inside was engraved
the date. Tearing open the page, he
read:
"RosAMoND-Long ago l wronged
you. The ring Harold gave you was
loose on your finger. When you
dropped it | found it and made YOU
believe he had placed it on my hand.
That was not true; placed it there
myself. Forgive me if you can; can
never forgive myself. though l meant
no more than a girlsh piece of mis-
chief At least you will believe from
this that | am sorry. and am doing
what l can to atone for my fault.
A. NJ.
Mr.. Heywode folded the note and re-
turned it without word, but kept the
ring, holding it loosely in the palm of
his hand.
Rosamond. a little hurt and dissa-
pointed at his silence, again turned TO
60; but he laid his hand on her arm.
Come this way" he said, and she
followed
Leaving the noisy jewellers, he
opened door, ascending one flight Of
stairs, and led the way into his own
study.
Have you any wish to keep this
ring ?" he asked, as they stood side by
side before the cheerful hearth.
She raised her head little proudly
as she answered. None
After all the mischief it has wrought
could not bear to have you to wear
it." and he dropped it into the fire.
But come here. see this" He drew
her tenderly within his arm as he un-
locked tiny drawer in a tall cabinet.
Here is the ring offered you once b G.
fore in the place of that. You refused
it then. VIII you accept it now' A
Christmas gift from me. a token OF
peace and love ? Speak to me dar-
ling; surely have waited long" Then
without waiting for any reply he raised
the pretty hand and slipped on the
glittering circle. There let there be
no dropping this, for see fastened it
on with kiss"
A shout of merry voices and noise
of scampering feet soon warned them
TO appear below.
1--WE shall have many years together
precious one; VIC can easily spare them
this one evening"" said Harold, and
they advanced bravely to meet the in
vaders, who were hunting for then
high and low.
What no! my liege, We have them
cried the queen, whose crown was by
this time sadly awry. ''Consprators!
We hold you in the kings name"
The advancing monarch received the
news of the capture with his wonted
solemnity. HIS crown was neatly and
firmly settled on his head. as if he
never meant TO remove it. 1t looked as
if it might have grown there.
why this unseemly uproar in the
realm?" cried Heywode, entering into
the spirit of the fun, to cover Miss
Young's confusion.
"The cutting of the ring cake has
been too long deferred" replied his
majesty Moreover, it has disap-
peared. Our commands are that it be
produced, severed, and distributed al
once"
The cake indeed could not be found.
and the courtiers were on the highroad
toward accusing Harold and Rosamond
of having eaten it. ring and all, when
Mrs. Barkley hustled in with many
apologies, and Gained the tumult with
a word.
al locked it up myself" said the
worthy lady, and she managed in pass.
ing to whisper few words to Mis-:
Young.
Rosamond in her turn conveyed
some myster Gus intelligence to Miss
Stanislas, who was elected to cut tho
cake What it was all about who shall
say? But either Judge Wesley John
was in rare luck. or there was a secret
and illegal mark on that cake known
only TO The initiated. in wh ch case
there were certainly three conspirators.
One thing remains. Mr.. John got the
ring.
All eyes then turned on Rosamond
for it seemed to have been agreed by
all that she was the lady of his cho &C
The surprise was therefore great when,
with regal pomp and circumstance, In,
king conferred it on his queen.
1t was ring of twisted silver, shap
ed like lovers knot. Miss Stanslat
received il very prettily, and | may al
Il. a